A second-straight win and 44 points scored at home, but Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold isn’t completely happy. Instead, the 28-year-old has one big regret about Week 3’s 44-13 win over the New Orleans Saints at Lumen Field on Sunday, September 21.
Darnold told reporters, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, “obviously we’d like to come away with, you know, a few more touchdowns, or a couple more touchdowns. I thought we obviously settled for some field goals there.”
Those words are a reference to Darnold and the offense accounting for a quartet of touchdowns, but also taking three field goals. It’s a more than respectable tally, but as Darnold said, the O’ benefitted all day from exceptional field position granted by a bonanza of big plays on special teams, along with a tough defense that forced plenty of extra possessions.
Darnold expected to take greater advantage, but he still produced a statistic he’s only bettered once before during his eight-year NFL career.
Sam Darnold Setting High Standard
He wants touchdowns, touchdowns and more touchdowns, but Darnold should still be pleased with what he put on film against the Saints. Specifically, how the signal-caller drafted with the third-overall pick by the New York Jets back in 2018 was efficient with the football.
Darnold never lived up to the hype for the Jets, but he looked like the Pro Bowler who propelled the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs last season this week. The numbers prove the point, with Greg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune detailing how Darnold went “14 for 18 passing, 218 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 turnovers 154.2 passer rating. Second-highest in a game of his career (157.9 last Dec. 8 for Vikings against the Cardinals, 22-28-347-5/0).
14 for 18 passing, 218 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 turnovers
154.2 passer rating. Second-highest in a game of his career (157.9 last Dec. 8 for Vikings against the Cardinals, 22-28-347-5/0)
Those are pleasingly solid stats from a passer who has often been boom or bust in the pros, evidenced by his two interceptions against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. The Seahawks need Darnold to marry his pursuit of big plays with the patience to take what a defense gives him and avoid mistake-worthy throws.
He achieved the right balance against the Saints, albeit with more than a helping hand from other phases of the team.
Seahawks Winning in Every Phase
Whether he’s Jets Darnold or the Vikings version, Seattle’s QB1 is being propped up by special teams and defense making a happy habit of adding splash plays to the highlight reel. Football’s third phase was the source of the spectacular against the Saints, notably when rookie wide receiver Tory Horton made franchise history with a 95-yard punt return, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Horton, who also caught one of Darnold’s touchdown passes, wasn’t the only member of coordinator Jay Harbaugh’s special teams to impact this game. Safety D’Anthony Bell also got in on the act to block a punt.
These contributions continued a prolific streak for the kicking units after the Seahawks followed kickoff rules to the letter to confuse the Steelers. Head coach Mike Macdonald and his staff did their homework to weaponize kick coverage, but equally special work is taking place on defense.
This side of the ball is home to a rampaging front having fun bucking league-wide trends. The defense as a whole kept the good times rolling against the Saints by logging two sacks and registering a further eight quarterback hits, while cornerback Derion Kendrick snatched an interception according to ESPN.
Defense and special teams are hitting the high gears, and while the Seahawks‘ offense isn’t there yet, Darnold sounds determined to make it happen.
Sam Darnold Names 1 Regret After Seahawks Hang 44 Points on Saints